Retro Spider?

[DoctorPDR]

Now that FIAT is back in the U.S., I'm wondering if they will ever come out with a new Spider for the masses. They have kept the Alfa Romeo Spider for years. What are your thoughts?

[Nick]

I actually was just thinking about this the other day. I see it unlikely that they will, since coming out with old popular cars redone seems to be an American manufacturer thing to do, but I would very much like that to happen.

I'm curious if anyone has come up with any designs for a newer model Spider. Usually that just ends up dividing people between those who like it and those who don't, but I could see a Mazda Miata type vehicle just a bit more ... Fiatular. ( - term coined by my little brother after riding in my car)

[ROOK1]

[quote="Nick"]I actually was just thinking about this the other day. I see it unlikely that they will, since coming out with old popular cars redone seems to be an American manufacturer thing to do, but I would very much like that to happen.
quote]

An American thing to do? VW Bug, Mini Cooper and the FIAT 500. I believe someone found a concept of a "New" Spider a while back. I'll see if I can find it.

[ROOK1]

Dupe. Save for pic when I find it.

[DoctorPDR]

I actually was just thinking about this the other day. I see it unlikely that they will, since coming out with old popular cars redone seems to be an American manufacturer thing to do, but I would very much like that to happen.

I'm curious if anyone has come up with any designs for a newer model Spider. Usually that just ends up dividing people between those who like it and those who don't, but I could see a Mazda Miata type vehicle just a bit more ... Fiatular. ( - term coined by my little brother after riding in my car)

Well Nick, perhaps a debate is in order. Although I agree with your assessment for the most part about American manufacturers re-designing older popular cars but, if FIAT wants to be successful in the U.S. Market they had better start designing cars that Americans want. And this would include a retro looking Spider. In the many years that FIAT exported these italian machines to the U.S., they became very popular with the American public and a very good seller for an imported car.

On another note, your little brother's coined term is VERY CLOSE to what my next personalized license plate will be. But I still don't think anyone is going to figure it out.

[Nick]

Rook: Good point, I didn't think about those cars for some reason, was thinking about the new Charger, Challenger, Camaro, etc. That raises my hopes for Fiat creating a new model of the Spider though!

DoctorPDR: I entirely agree that Fiat is going to have to make cars that appeal to this market. Many of Fiats current cars (albeit very cool IMO) are mostly too small to be wildly popular over here. I don't know how much capability they have of making different cars just for us, but I hope that they make a new Fiat! Perhaps the value of our Fiats would increase if they did, and it'd be pretty cool to see the Spider live on. Either way, most likely it'll have to wait until Fiat (hopefully) establishes a strong foothold over here.

[fiatS2000]

This is the old thread on the same subject.
http://fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php ... ept#p52412

[So Cal Mark]

don't count on Fiat building a rear-drive car unless their sales here take off to levels they never imagined. All of thier cars are front drive, and to build a factory for one model is not feasible unless that model is selling lots of units. That is one of the main reasons Fiat quit building the Spider; there was one factory for rear drive cars and sales were dropping like crazy.
With the advent of the Abarth 500, I believe Fiat sees potential in modifying existing models rather than building low production vehicles

[beachboy]

I was under the impression that Fiat did not build the spider in one of their factories, but was built at the Pininfarina factory along with the Alfa Romeo spider on the same line.

The new Camaro, Mustang and Challenger are RWD. I have heard whispering of FWD for the smaller, fuel efficient and RWD for the power and luxury sized vehicles. Maybe AWD will supplant all of this, until electric motors are on the axles.

[baltobernie]

don't count on Fiat building a rear-drive car unless ...

Well, they could always "do a 128", and make a modern X1/9 with a Punto drivetrain turned around. A poor-man's Exige, with a soft top. But Pinninfarina, not Bertone, please. Oh yes, and chrome bumpers, too! There's a market for you.

[stefhahn]

Folks,

you forget that nowadays Alfa Romeo is a part of the Fiat family. And there is a Alfa Spider in the lineup currently, a nice street toy - but not selling too good. If I'd be a decision maker at Fiat, I'd try to push the sales of an existing car like the Alfa Spider towards the US but would not develop a new car for x times the money just to have the Fiat brand placed there (which has a questionable reputation in the US anyway, afaik).
Just my 2c

ciao,
Stefan

[DoctorPDR]

Folks,

you forget that nowadays Alfa Romeo is a part of the Fiat family. And there is a Alfa Spider in the lineup currently, a nice street toy - but not selling too good. If I'd be a decision maker at Fiat, I'd try to push the sales of an existing car like the Alfa Spider towards the US but would not develop a new car for x times the money just to have the Fiat brand placed there (which has a questionable reputation in the US anyway, afaik).
Just my 2c

ciao,
Stefan

I actually mentioned that above. Alfa has been owned by FIAT for a very long time. FIAT also owns Maserati, Ferrari (For the past 50 years I do believe), Allis Chalmers, and many other companies. And from what I believe, Alfa is back in the United States since about 2 years ago. The Alfa I'm referring to is a six figure car if you want to buy it. As you can assume, this car is NOT for the masses (see above).

However, Alfa is NOT FIAT (if that makes any sense)!

Furthermore, I highly doubt that FIAT would have wanted a stake in Chrysler if they didn't have the intention in getting back in the U.S. market and also being very successful. Honestly, FIAT is way more successful and advanced compared to Chrysler. Chrysler has it's small amount of technological hoo rahs but for the most part, they are a dying company. End of story.

I liked Chrysler back in the day when Iaccoca was at the helm. Since he left, I no longer like or even give a rats ass about Chrysler. And that's my two cents worth.

Sprechen Sie Deutsch Stefan?

[spidernut]

I haven't looked at this in a long time, but here is a Photoshop concept I developed for a newer version of the Spider with retro cues. The back was a little clunky, but it isn't too bad.

[stefhahn]

Hrumpf :-/ This looks like a shrunk Ford Mustang... not exactly italian design, look at the current Pininfarina studies and you see what I mean.

Back to topic - well, don't get me wrong, I assume that Fiat might push the Alfa Spider towards the US market, probably badged as Fiat - but I have my strong doubts that they will get a newish developed Fiat Spider up to speed soonish.

ciao,
Stefan

[mipstien]

http://www.carbodydesign.com/archive/20 ... t-concept/

not the same thing but modeled after the fiat. pretty close considering the changes in 'new age old schools'